The Miami Marlins (53-43) and the St. Louis Cardinals (41-53) play the middle contest of a 3-game series Tuesday at Busch Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Marlins vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Marlins lead 3-2 after dropping the series opener to the Cardinals Monday 6-4

The Marlins are in freefall, losing 4 straight games to stumble out of the All-Star break. Miami has dropped 7 consecutive contests away from home, too. The team is expected to activate RHP Edward Cabrera (shoulder, blister) from the 10-day injured list. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 13. Cabrera threw a 5-inning simulated game Thursday.

The Cardinals have rattled off 3 consecutive victories, the team’s longest streak since winning 4 in a row from June 17-20. The Over has cashed in 4 straight games, with the Cards averaging 7.0 runs per game (RPG) during the span. St. Louis has scored 3 or more runs in 9 straight outings, too.

Marlins at Cardinals projected starters

RHP Edward Cabrera vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery

Cabrera (5-5, 4.70 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.40 WHIP, 5.5 BB/9 and 11.3 K/9 in 67 innings.

• Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K in a 9-3 road loss vs. the Seattle Mariners June 13
• 2023 road splits: 0-5, 6.50 ERA (36 IP, 26 ER – 6 HR), .225 opponent batting average (OBA) in 8 starts

Montgomery (6-7, 3.23 ERA) makes his 19th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 103 innings.

• Last start: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K in an 8-7 road loss vs. the Chicago White Sox July 7
• 2023 home splits: 4-3, 3.61 ERA (52 1/3 IP, 21 ER – 5 HR), .261 OBA in 9 starts

Marlins at Cardinals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:23 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Marlins +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Cardinals -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Marlins +1.5 (-165) | Cardinals -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Marlins at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Cardinals 6, Marlins 3

Moneyline

The CARDINALS (-150) have picked up the pace, both offensively and in the pitching department. St. Louis turns to the southpaw Montgomery to keep the Marlins (+125) down.

Miami has played poorly out of the break, and there is a rust factor with Cabrera coming back. Even if he is fully healthy, he has been hot garbage on the road this season, going 0-5 with a 6.50 ERA in 36 IP across 8 starts.

Run line/Against the spread

The CARDINALS -1.5 (+135) is worth a roll of the dice on the run line. St. Louis has won by 2 or more runs in each of its last 3 games, and it is 5-1 on the run line as a favorite in the last 6 tries.

Keep fading the ice-cold Marlins +1.5 (-165) until they start to show some signs of life.

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Over/Under

OVER 8 (-105) is the lean, but play a half-unit at most.

The Over has connected in 4 consecutive games for the Cardinals, while cashing at a 4-1 clip in the first 5 meetings with the Marlins this season. The Over is also 7-2 in the past 9 home games for the Cards.

For the Fish, the Over has hit in 3 straight outings, while going 9-2-1 in the past 12 games overall. The Over has cashed in 3 of the last 4 road starts for Cabrera, too.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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